flyline...

[Beresford13861]

alright, im not trading my roots, but im thinking of a new aspect for trouting this year...Fly fishing, i can get a cheap rod and reel so start with...but theres so damm many lines...

you flyfish?..give me clue on line so i can make sure i set it up correctly.
i need everthing from what knott onto the spool to the actual fly...but i dont wana hear about fly types yet, just the line setups!

[PlatinumHooks]

Ray, will be your source for this topic for sure. He'll definitely help set you up. When it comes to fly selction (later), he'll also be your guy for that, but I as well have a pretty good knowledge of fly patterns(wet, dry, and salties).

[Beresford13861]

where are you ray! i need some help buddy!

[NulodPBall]

Originally Posted by Beresford13861

where are you ray! i need some help buddy!

===

Hey, I didn't see this post until after I read your PM...I gotta go soon but you can post any of my PM except the obvious stuff if you want.

I know some people that say to start out with the best gear first, and you won't be sorry...some of those people also have large bank accounts...one of them just hawks his left nut to get his gear...there is some truth to that idea, if you can afford it.

Lines are a very personal matter, but my opinion is to buy the very best line (notice I didn't say the best that you can afford, I said the best line), buy the best rod that you can afford (if you can, stay above $200.00), and buy a crappy reel. The knots are easy...you can get away with only three basic knots...it's easier to show you than to tell you...you'll cry at how easy it is, but get frustrated if I tell you.

I personally like 444. I've tried 555 but I cast much better with my rods ith 444, in various iterations. some people I know like Rio. Others like Tiny. It's all personal. Your line should cost about $60.00. Above that and it's probably a specialty line, or a shooting head system. Stretch your line before each use.

the only line you really need is a floating line. A full sink line is nice to have, but you can get away without it. If you see some lead tape-weights, you can use those instead of BB's to turn your floating line into a sink tip line. I put it right on the fly line tip. It doesn't damage the line. BB's you put on the leader, it crimps the line and many times slides.

If you're going to fish dry flies with no wind or don't know if you will, get a dual taper line.

If you're going to fish in the wind, or with heavy flies, get a rocket taper.

if you get two lines, get a spare reel spool for the 2nd line.

Don't be upset if you can only cast 20 ft...there are plenty of fish within 6 ft of you...I can prove it to you

If you're going to fish lakes mostly get a 9 ft rod.
If you're going to fish creeks mostly, get a 6 ft rod...although some weird people like a 9 ft rod for creeks.

If you can afford it, get a rod that's worth more than $200.00. Trust me on that one. You can feel the difference when casting. The next jump in price vs performance is around the five or six hundred dollar mark, from the rods that I've tried. I prefer a fast to med-fast rod. If you plan on fishing alot of dry flies get a slower rod. Any rod under $100.00 I expect to break...I've seen it happen. That said, if you can't afford a $200.00 rod, then just buy a $20.00 Walmart special...you get the rod, reel, and some line, and sometimes, some crappy flies. I was thinking of doing that for my neice and nephew and just upgrading their lines later if they showed interest...you CAN be happy catching fish with that setup, just don't be surprised when the rod breaks...just smile and steal your wife's rod

I'm serious about the HUGE difference in performance between low end setups and medium setups (if you want to go high end, I can show you a reel that costs $1,200.00, it has a matching rod that has it's own price). There's also a big jump between mid-level setups and high-end setups but you have to be able to cast well to detect the difference.

I, as you know, fish mostly lakes and can help you there...early in my flyfishing career I fished creeks and streams but gave up on that in Southern California so I know a few local spots but I can't say that we'll catch fish there, and it's alot of work...if you can see the fish, then they can see you At least in the local running waters.

I know a friend of mine that got a decent Abel setup (rod and reel only) for about $350.00 down at His and Hers. The reel is a bit heavier than your regular Abel reel, but very smooth. They also sell some Ecco setups I think for just under $200.00. Bob Marriott's has a ton of stuff. Don't be afraid to try before you buy, unless it's at a sporting goods store.

Don't buy something just because it's on sale, make sure that you like it before you buy it...I just "accidentally" bought another Torque I had to sell the first one because I had it in my hands and couldn't justify the adrenaline purchase (once a Tackle Ho' always a Tackle Ho')...I can't justify the cost of such a pretty piece of gear, even though I lust after it...remember, I said that the reel mostly doesn't matter...I'd say if I was fishing a 9 wt or larger, the reel becomes more important (a friend of mine borrowed my 10 wt and was complaining about my large knots and my skinny running line...he kept getting into the backing easy with 5 lb bonito...and that rod is rated for small tuna and YT :0 ), but on a five weight, unless you're going for 24 inch fish, you rarely use the reel. My friends say that I'm crazy, but I actually like catching 20" fish on my 3 wt. The old guy in the back at Bob Marriott's (Bob?) thinks I'm a fish killer and frowns at me (he hates people that fish with light rods and big fish) ...too bad they didn't replace Harley...I find that I don't even stress about being undergunned unless the fish is over 20"...I may whoop and holler alot, but on my 5 wt, I've actually said "It's a smaller one" but actually had a good but short fight with a 21 incher...I've actually had longer fights with some 19 inchers...go figure.

[Beresford13861]

ray in my opion is FULL of knowledge when it comes to fly fishing, great guy! and thanks again pal!

[NulodPBall]

Originally Posted by Beresford13861

ray in my opion is FULL of knowledge when it comes to fly fishing, great guy! and thanks again pal!

-===

You're welcome.

As an aside, I know I've mentioned this before but you should've seen my niece and nephew's faces when I forced them to fish with bits of a leaf...it about matched their faces when they each hooked a fish they couldn't lift, with their bits of leaves...moral: stick to the standard stuff first, with flies, but don't be afraid to try something silly...just look at some of the flies out there and you can't tell me that the fly tier wasn't drunk when he first thought of it...

Oh and remember...yes, you may have 12 million different tapers and umpteen different sink rates, but all the fly lines do the same thing: They allow you to put a fly in front of a fish so they can bite it.

[Eric]

You also might think of checking out the fly show this weekend at bob's. here is a link for info on the show...
http://bobmarriotts.net/FAIR_Home.aspx
Eric

[Beresford13861]

wow Eric thank you, thats PERFECT timing, me and ray were talking about Bobs last night im gona check that link out!

alright, i bit the bullet, i got a fly rod and reel!! cant wait to try it out!

[NulodPBall]

And you walked away from Bob Marriott's with only a slight limp

I have walked away from a fly shop with an $80.00 bill...that was $80.00 for the flies only...a guide I know runs around with all those little plastic cups on his dash, and flies all stuck into his dash cover 'cause he'll stop somewhere just to check out their flies...and buy more

[Beresford13861]

Originally Posted by NulodPBall

And you walked away from Bob Marriott's with only a slight limp

I have walked away from a fly shop with an $80.00 bill...that was $80.00 for the flies only...a guide I know runs around with all those little plastic cups on his dash, and flies all stuck into his dash cover 'cause he'll stop somewhere just to check out their flies...and buy more

80 bucks in fly's? wowzers...i can see how it happens, i dont think i spent that on all the stuff i got!..suhhhh....

[cst]

fly's are a work of art though

[Beresford13861]

ok you fly nutts, im not sure if im getting this correctly...
1. backing
2. flyline
3. butt section(with loop)
4. taper
5. tipet

can someone tell me if that is correct, and why you would want 6 damm knotts??? ..why a taper and tipet? why not JUST a taper or a tipet?

[tompayne]

can i go with you mark when you flyfish? itd be good for a laugh, you looked pretty goofy when you tried it at puddingstone

[Beresford13861]

Originally Posted by tompayne

can i go with you mark when you flyfish? itd be good for a laugh, you looked pretty goofy when you tried it at puddingstone

the thing is we ALL look goofy doing it!

[Homeslice]

Originally Posted by Beresford13861

the thing is we ALL look goofy doing it!

You're wrong. I look dead sexy doin it.